Adjustable manual spray iron

ABSTRACT

A flatiron having a spray assembly for operation to spray the fabric being ironed. The spray assembly has a rotatable cap with a plurality of offset and different size orifices whereby different liquid spray rates may be selected by selecting and rotating one of the radially offset orifices into registering position.

1 51 Aug. 22, 1972 United States Patent Davidson et al.

.38/77.5 Kuhn..........................38/77.5 11/1962 Greg0ry......................38/77.5 4/1964 Taylor........................38/77.5 11/1965 Carabetetal..............38/77.5 Vieceli .......................38/77.5 Hanner.......................38/77.5 Phifer................... .....38/77.5

2,825,158 3/1958 2,887,799 5/1959 3,061,958 S. Foster, Huntington Beach, all of 22129523 Calif. 3,218,742 3,264,764 8/1966 [73] Asslgnee: General Electric Company 3,292,283 12/1966 [22] Filed: 3,552,046 1/1971 dell C; Walker, Alta Loma; Harold June 11, 1971 ADJUSTABLE MANUAL SPRAY IRON [72] Inventors: William E. Davidson, Ontario; Wen- Appl 152333 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson AtmrneyLawrence R. Kempton et a1.

52 us. 511 Int.75/06 1 1 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search........................................38/77.5 A flatiron havinza Spray assembly for operation to I spra the fabric being ironed. The spray assembly has [56] References cued a rot atable cap with a plurality of offset and different UNI STATES PATENTS size orifices whereby different liquid spray rates may be selected by selecting and rotating one of the radially offset orifices into registering position.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 2,353,426 7/1944 14011011........... 2,810,218 10/1957 l-loecker.................... 2,817,169 12/1957 Schott PATENTED I972 SHEET 1 BF 3 I I INVE'NZORS. W4 22mm Ewen/Z507 Harold S. F0526? Wendell C. Walker 1 ADJUSTABLE MANUAL SPRAY IRON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a spray iron and more particularly to an adjustable sprayer iron whereby a manual adjustment means varies the liquid flow rate through the sprayer when the sprayer control means is actuated.

2. Description of the Prior Art With the advent of irons using distilled vor tap water for either steam or spray purposes or both, a liquid reservoir in the form of a water tank is generally provided in the iron above the soleplate and a water valve structure provides controlled water drippage into a steam generator where the water is evaporated and directed out steam holes in the soleplate to steam the fabric. Sprayattachments have been added to such irons to supply a fine spray from the water tank to spray onto the fabric. Such spray attachments may be manual, where each actuation of a suitable button pumps a spurt of water, or thespray may be steampowered where, by suitable valving, the steam pressure is raised and directed to the spray where it aspirates and pressurizes the water'so that a single depression of the button provides a continuous spray until the button is released. A typical manual spray iron is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,61 l and a typical powered spray iron is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,757 both of common assignment. In steam irons which have the spray feature, the irons have proven to be extremely useful in the ironing of unsprinkled clothes and the occasional redampening of troublesome spots during ironing. The amount of moisture in the spray or the spray rate of such irons, however, is generally a compromise between a dry or light spray suitable for light fabrics, such as synthetics, to a medium spray suitable for woolens or. medium-weight cottons, to the heavier wet spray desirable fro heavy cottons and linens. Operators differ widely as to what is the proper spray rate for the different materials. For example, a single rate spray iron tends to provide too muchliquid on the fabric when synthetics are ironed and it provides insufficient moisture for heavy cottons and linens. Inasmuch as the fabrics being ironed require different amounts of spray and the operators, even on the same materials, differ as to the proper amount of spray, the usual single rate iron is a compromise to meet these variable conditions. Application Ser. No. 824,591 filed May 14, 1969 of common assignment discloses a design with an adjustable sprayer assembly, whether manual or power, to vary the liquid spray rate and meet a wide range of requirements of fabrics and operators. That application, while disclosing and claiming the general concept, also discloses the detailed structure for the power spray operation. The present invention is directed to other specific forms that are more applicable to irons having the manual or individual pump-type sprayer although the adjustment feature is applicable to either type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention is directed to a spray iron with a liquid reservoir and sprayer assembly associated with an iron of the type having a housing body connected to the iron with liquid passage means therethrough, a check valve, a spreader member in the body and a spray cap abutting the spreader which is the usual general construction of a spray iron. To this A structure the invention improves in the sprayer assembly in order to apply spray at different selected liquid flow rates and comprises multiple discrete and different sized spaced orifices in the cap radially disposed from the assembly center line. Theconventional. swirl chamber is provided in one end of the spreader but it is offset herein from the assembly center line. Means are provided for rotatably mounting the cap on the body and means are provided to lock the .cap in a selected rotated position to register an orifice opposite the chamber and off the center line of the spray assembly to provide a given liquid flow rate according to the selected orifice. A conventional manual pump means is provided to actuate the sprayer assembly so that any desirable liquid'flow rate may be selected. Two specific modifications are shown 'to obtain different liquid flow rates. Thus, the main object of the invention is to'provide a sprayer assembly whereby different liquid flow spray rates may be manually selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a part side elevation with a break-away section showing the location of the invention in a fiatiron;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through one form of an adjustable manual spray assembly;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, of another modification; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the modification of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an iron of the type embodying this invention with the forward portion of a steam iron having a handle 10, a.cover 12, and a soleplate l4. Mounted within the cover 12 is a liquid reservoir 16 that is generally for water. The reservoir has a drip valve 18 in its bottom where water is dispensed through valve 18 onto the soleplate 14 to flash into steam when the soleplate is heated by heater 20. A cover plate 22 is secured to the top of the soleplate and provides paths for the passage of steam from boiler 24 to a plurality of steam outlets, one of which is shown at 26, and onto the fabric being ironed.

A sprayer assembly 28, connected to diaphragm pump 30 or its equivalent, draws water through tube 32 and suitable valving where the water is expelled as a spray through a central orifice in cap 34. A burst of spray is ejected on each actuation of manual push-button 36 which acts through interconnecting linkage 38 to operate the pump 30. The details of such a manual spray iron are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,611 of common assignment. An alternate to the manual spray is a power spray wherein steam pressure is used to provide a constant spray as long as the button is depressed. Such structure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,757 of common assignment. As previously noted, generally the spray has been a compromise and application Ser. No. 824,591 filed May 14, 1969 is directed to the concept of varying the liquid flow rate through the sprayer, whether manual or power, inorder to provide more flexibility in the proper selection of spray quantity and quality as required by the particular fabric.

The invention herein, while generally usable with any type spray mechanism, is primarily directed to specific embodiments useful in the manual or repetitive pumptype spray wherein different liquid spray flow rates may be obtained. Referring next to FIGS. 2-4 there is shown a typical sprayer as modified by the invention. In this, a housing body 40 is connected to the iron through mount 42 and spray cap 34 is held on the housing body by threaded retainer ring 44. Disposed therein is spreader member 46, a spring 48, and a ball check valve 50 which may be part of the spreader or separate as shown and with the hollow central portions providing a liquid passage means through the assembled structure. Spreader 46 ensures an even flow of water or spray by being provided at one end with a generally centrally disposed swirl chamber 52 that is held in abutment with cap 34 by spring 48. To this generally wellknown structure the instant invention adds an improvement to permit a spray at different selected liquid flow rates. To this end, cap 34 is rotatably mounted and is provided with multiple discrete different-sized spaced orifices 54 with each orifice being radially disposed from the spray assembly'center line 56 as best shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, the swirl chamber 52 is offset from the center line. Inthe FIG. 3 modification, it is shown as a generally symmetrical oval shape with the major axis at right angles to the radius of the offset. The offset spacing of the chamber and orifices is such that only a single operative orifice can, at one time, be centrally disposed to register over the swirl chamber as shown. Spring means 48 then biases spreader member 46 against the cap inner surface to seal the unregistered orifices against operation. In order to direct the incoming water to the swirl chamber, plural liquid ducts 58 which, as shown, comprise a pair of ducts, enter the chamber 52 at equal spaced points around the periphery. With the two ducts, as shown, entry is at the opposite ends of chamber 52.

For different flow rates, it will now be seen that a single selected orifice may be disposed, preferably centrally, over the swirl chamber by changing the position of one relative to the other. Thus, either the swirl chamber can be moved to line up with the selected orifice or, more conveniently, a selected single orifice can be moved into registration with the swirl chamber. Two executions of specific structure to accomplish the latter by a rotating cap are shown. In order to provide for the different selected liquid flow rates, cap 34 is mounted, with retaining ring 44, to rotate about housing body 40 and lock to bring any desired orifice 54 into alignment with swirl chamber 52. This may be accomplished in numerous ways such as by making the spreader member of a soft rubber material whereby cap 34, provided with suitable dimples 60, registers with corresponding indentations 62 in spreader 46. The cap is thus indexed around to lock in position and rotate a selected orifice around the center line and place it opposite the offset swirl chamber 52 to provide a selected given liquid flow rate. The spreader member 46 may be prevented from turning by suitable means such as keyways or a hexagonal-shaped shank fitting in a corresponding receiving member in housing body 40 as shown in the exploded FIG. 3 view. Thus, a convenient desired orifice opposite the swirl chamber while sealing off the unregistered orifices.

Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, a different modification is shown illustrating a dual liquid flow rate structure. In this modification, the cap 64 may be of a soft plastic and made rotatable by snapping it directly on housing body 66 over a suitable locating flange or snap ring 68. The cap is designed to be rotated 180 with a niche 70 abutting stop 72 to lock in position. This allows one or the other of offset and different sized spaced orifices 74 to register with offset generally symmetrical S-shaped swirl chamber 76 which has its center at the same radius as each oflset orifice. Suitable keyways and keys as shown may hold the non-rotating parts. The chamber is fed by a pair of ducts 78 extending through spreader 80 and entering the chamber 76 at one end of the spreader at the ends of the S in order to impart a swirl to the incoming water for good spraying. Leakage is prevented by a suitable soft pliable sealing member 82 sealing. against the cap as shown in FIG. 5. In order to seal the unused and unregistered orifice, it is convenient to provide a spring-biased plunger 84 directly in the spreader 80 to abut tightly against the unused cap orifice. This avoids the need for absolute flatness of the abutting cap and spreader and makes for easier sealing since the seal is actually directly at the orifice. The remainder of the structure operates generally as previously described.

Thus, it may be seen that either modification of the sprayer provides a convenient manual means of obtaining different selected liquid flow rates by offsetting the orifices and swirl chamber and permitting only the selected one to operate at any given time while sealing off the unused orifices. Any suitable numbered or type of material calibration or interconnecting linkage with the temperature level can be used to indicate the proper orifice.

While there have been described preferred forms of the invention, obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practised, otherwise then as specifically described, and the claims are intended to cover such equivalent variations.

We claim:

1. In a spray iron with a liquid reservoir and sprayer assembly associated therewith of the type having a housing body connected to the iron with liquid passage means therethrough, a check valve and a spreader member in the body and a spray cap abutting the spreader, the improvement in the sprayer assembly to apply spray at different selected liquid flow rates comprising;

multiple discrete different-sized spaced orifices in said cap,

a swirl chamber in one end of said spreader and offset from the assembly center line,

means mounting said cap on the body, and

means to bring a single selected orifice into registration over said chamber to provide a given liquid flow rate.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including means rotatably mounting said cap on the body,

means to lock said cap in a selected rotated position to register an orifice Centrally opposite said chamber and off the assembly center lineto provide said given liquid flow rate, and

pump means to actuate said sprayer.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said swirl chamber is symmetrically shaped and said chamber and said orifices are respectively offset and disposed from the assembly center line.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said spreader is provided with plural liquid ducts therethrough,

said ducts being disposed to enter said swirl chamber at peripherally equal spaced points therearound.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said ducts comprise a pair entering said chamber at opposite sides thereof.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said chamber is generally oval-shaped with its major axis at right angles to the radius of said offset.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said ducts comprise a pair, one at each end of the major axis,

said registered orifice being centrally disposed over said chamber, and

spring means biasing said spreader against the cap to seal the unregistered orifices.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said chamber is generally S-shaped with its center at the same radius as said orifice, and

said ducts comprise a pair with each duct entering an end of the S.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 8 with a springbiased plunger means disposed in the spreader to seal against the unregistered orifice means. 

1. In a spray iron with a liquid reservoir and sprayer assembly associated therewith of the type having a housing body connected to the iron with liquid passage means therethrough, a check valve and a spreader member in the body and a spray cap abutting the spreader, the improvement in the sprayer assembly to apply spray at different selected liquid flow rates comprising; multiple discrete different-sized spaced orifices in said cap, a swirl chamber in one end of said spreader and offset from the assembly center line, means mounting said cap on the body, and means to bring a single selected orifice into registration over said chamber to provide a given liquid flow rate.
 2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including means rotatably mounting said cap on the body, means to lock said cap in a selected rotated position to register an orifice centrally opposite said chamber and off the assembly center line to provide said given liquid flow rate, and pump means to actuate said sprayer.
 3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said swirl chamber is symmetrically shaped and said chamber and said orifices are respectively offset and disposed from the assembly center line.
 4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said spreader is provided with plural liquid ducts therethrough, said ducts being disposed to enter said swirl chamber at peripherally equal spaced points therearound.
 5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said ducts comprise a pair entering said chamber at opposite sides thereof.
 6. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said chamber is generally oval-shaped with its major axis at right angles to the radius of said offset.
 7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said ducts comprise a pair, one at each end of the major axis, said registered orifice being centrally disposed over said chamber, and spring means biasing said spreader against the cap to seal the unregistered orifices.
 8. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said chamber is generally S-shaped with its center at the same radius as said orifice, and said ducts comprise a pair with each duct entering an end of the S.
 9. Apparatus as described in claim 8 with a spring-biased plunger means disposed in the spreader to seal against the unregistered orifice means. 